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a vulture's head

Collectively, vultures are called a kettle when soaring overhead, a committee when gathered on the ground, and, when they come together to feed, a wake.

Ken and Linda Ostrand say the wake that gathers in their yard regularly came with their house. The previous owner tried unsuccessfully to run them off, but they always returned—drawn, the Ostrands think, by the large cleared yard on a southern facing slope. Surrounded with tall trees and buildings, it’s a perfect place for the raptors to lounge in the sun.

Neighbor Michael Beanland says the Ostrands have been feeding the birds, who now regularly spill over into his yard, damage his roof shingles, and coat his sidewalk with thick layers of excrement.

Beanland has asked the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners to intervene. But as Elizabeth Friend reports, getting people to stop feeding the birds may be tougher than it sounds.

Neighborly Dispute Over Vultures Puts Wildlife Feeding in the Spotlight

One couple says the birds came with their house. Their neighbors say the duo won’t stop feeding the scavengers and have asked the town to step in.

“Very few people are fans of vultures. But they wouldn’t like their life and their world if we didn’t have them,” said Linda. “They’re here for a reason. Mother Nature makes very few mistakes.”

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.

Can You Have It Both Ways?

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis doesn’t want to be put in a box. To hear Tillis tell it, he can’t be. 

“I had people come and ask me, ‘When did I become bipartisan?’” said the senator. “I said, ‘You clearly haven’t watched my work.’”

With his seat up for grabs next year, Tillis insists his conservative credentials are in just as good of a standing as his bipartisan ones.

“If people want to talk about they’ve got more conservative bona fides than me, name the place and the venue,” he said.

Fighting words aside, Tillis is attempting a delicate balance between demonstrating his conservative cred and also flexing his bipartisanship. For more, check out our first story produced in partnership with NOTUS.

Thom Tillis Is Already Navigating a Delicate Balance for Reelection

Asked what he makes of primary threats, Sen. Thom Tillis was wry. “They’re cute,” he said.

What We’re Reading

DOGE Eat DOGE: Taking a cue from President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, Republican state lawmakers summoned several government leaders last week to testify about their offices’ work, per WRAL.

School of Hard Knocks: Bill Belichick and UNC football are expected to participate in HBO’s upcoming offseason “Hard Knocks” series, via CBS Sports. It would be the first time “Hard Knocks” has collaborated with a college football program.

Congressional Frat Row: A Capitol Hill townhouse owned by a GOP donor has become the base of operations for a pastor seeking to influence policy. Dan Bishop seems to have lived in the home last year while he was a congressman from North Carolina, ProPublica reports.

Wheely Big Deal: WUNC looks at the reopening of Wheels Fun Park in Durham, and why bucking the trend of skating rink closures has cultural significance.

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The Fight that Fractured Saint Augustine’s University

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An Uphill Climb for North Carolina’s Ski Resorts

As climate change raises temperatures and changes snowfall patterns, the state’s multimillion-dollar ski industry has had to adapt.

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